Monthly Archives: December 2025

When is an anti-Zionist insult not an insult?

Posted on December 19, 2025 by andrew

Andrew L. Urban A Melbourne magistrate has ruled prosecutors must prove former Burgertory boss Hash Tayeh had intent to “insult or offend” when he chanted “all Zionists are terrorists” in public. Well, blow me down, Magistrate Malcolm Thomas, obviously wanted … Continue reading →

Posted in General articles | 5 Comments

What do Linda Reynolds and Bondi massacre have in common?

Posted on December 17, 2025 by andrew

Andrew L. Urban There is a straight line between the Albanese leadership’s response to the Bondi Beach massacre on Sunday December 14, 2025 and its behaviour towards former Senator Linda Reynolds. That straight line points to a lack of integrity. … Continue reading →

Posted in Case 18 Bruce Lehrmann | 16 Comments

Australia inherited old mindsets on wrongful convictions – and kept them

Posted on December 14, 2025 by andrew

Andrew L. Urban The costumed theatre of our law courts take us back to the mindset of the 1800s when there was no such thing as a pesky appellate process. But the courts are still hanging on to a sense … Continue reading →

Posted in General articles | 2 Comments

Prosecutorial misconduct triggers new trial for Greg Lynn

Posted on December 12, 2025 by andrew

Andrew L. Urban In upholding the Greg Lynn appeal, justices Karin Emerton, Phillip Priest and Peter Kidd said: “Unhappily, we have concluded that the conduct of prosecuting counsel so compromised the fairness of the applicant’s trial that a substantial miscarriage … Continue reading →

Posted in General articles | 2 Comments

ACT Integrity (???) Commission dismisses Sofronoff appeal, no surprise

Posted on December 11, 2025 by andrew

Andrew L. Urban  The ACT Integrity Commission had found that Walter Sofronoff providing his report on the inquiry into the criminal prosecution of Bruce Lehrmann to two journalists (under embargo) was corrupt. He appealed and in dismissing his appeal, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Case 18 Bruce Lehrmann | 5 Comments

Does it pass the pub test = does it pass the common sense test?

Posted on December 10, 2025 by andrew

Andrew L. Urban  Common sense would tell you that a migrant with imperfect English accused of murdering a whole family but claiming to be innocent would not make a confession to negate his alibi to a stranger in jail, even … Continue reading →

Posted in Case 01 Sue Neill-Fraser, Case 07 George Pell, Case 11 Robert Xie | 5 Comments

The case of the missing gold prospector

Posted on December 9, 2025 by andrew

Andrew L. Urban The conviction of Stephen Struber and Dianne Wilson-Struber for the 2012 murder of gold prospector Bruce Schuler in remote Queensland carries a high risk of wrongful conviction when assessed against established international miscarriage-of-justice indicators. Former detective and … Continue reading →

Posted in S & D Struber, Stephen & Dianne Struber | 5 Comments

When Murphy’s law was right

Posted on December 8, 2025 by andrew

The late jurist Lionel Murphy (1922 – 1986) wrote a prescient dissenting view when the High Court rejected Lindy Chamberlain’s 1984 appeal, where Murphy was outvoted 3-2. It is essential reading even now. Murphy’s summary turned out to be 100% … Continue reading →

Posted in Lindy Chamberlain | 6 Comments

Coming soon: true crime movies inspired by real events

Posted on December 7, 2025 by andrew

Andrew L. Urban  Another title could be “You can’t make this stuff up!” And we didn’t. Or you could file it under ‘Truth is stranger than fiction’. We have been inspired by real events to draft these story lines. Sadly, … Continue reading →

Posted in General articles | 4 Comments

A-G Rowland says ‘no’ to CCRC – much needed law reform

Posted on December 6, 2025 by andrew

Not for the first time, a Federal Attorney-General has shrugged off a proposal to consider the establishment of a Criminal Cases Review Commission. The public should know this. The legal profession should know this – especially the few who have … Continue reading →

Posted in CCRC | 2 Comments